I love both DLCs, and I happen to be the only person on Earth that loves Dawnguard even more than Dragonborn. The Forgotten Vale is a place I find myself going back to, time and time again. Great video, love the topic
*Dragonborn,* easy. *Dawnguard* is fun, but *DB* just bring so much more in terms of new worldspace, dungeons, likable characters and expansion of the universe's lore. The fact that it's also huge *Morrowind* callback helps too.
I really like both of them tbh. Dragonborn has alot more open world / side quests content, whereas Dawnguard's Vampire Lord system can be really fun and immersive in survival mode and gives the player alot of things to consider when traversing the open world. (Also I like vampires too much in fiction)
I can't place either above the other. Both shine in different categories and both are wonderful. Dawnguard has awesome story, characters and adventure and I really like the vibe/aesthetic of the castles and the new armours and artifact weapons. Also the Forgotten Vale is beautiful. Dragonborn, on the other hand, speaks to the curious explorer in me, introducing a whole new continent, full of cults, treasure and wonders. I like the feeling of going on an expedition, meeting indigenous people, finding treasures and going back home filthy rich. If I had to leave only one, I'd have a hard time deciding which one. I think a better question for me is: which to play first?
i personally play dawnguard first because i think the enemies are weaker than the ones in dragonborn especially if you are high level so i play dawnguard first to feel challenged, and also the dragonborn items, weapons, armor and powers are much stronger, so if i play it early on ill be overpowered early playthrough
I prefer Dragonborn just because I really like the vibes Apocrypha gives me. The Forgotten Vale is propably the most beautiful area in the game but since I'm playing on survival mode I really learned hating it. It's freezing at the most points and doesn't have a bed. At least Blackreach is warm and has a bed.
I mostly hate the Soul Karen, because, as an RP non-vampire character, I need to leave my soul(or part of it) there and it's important for me to get it back. And it can be annoying trying to find the place to get it back without quest markers.
in my opinion, dragonborn is better in terms of content. and dawnguard is better for story but ONLY because of serana. she just made the story so much more interesting and unique even if you want to talk about outside of the elder scrolls games... there is no story like serana's story and your friendship with her. (as far as im aware - and a HUGE bonus points if you have serana add-on mod which makes her story so much better)
I've honestly never played Dragonborn because it's an extension of the main quest and I'm one of those people that never plays the main quest. Last time I properly finished the main quest was before Dragonborn was even released.
I love both dlcs, but I don't like how they made traveling through the soul cairn so tedious. Especially with that one quest with Jiub where he tells you to find 10 pages of his fucking book that he was working on in Kvatvh at the time of the Oblivion days. I can find stuff without quest markers, but no clue is to where it is, is different. Look at Morrowind. They don't give you quest markers, but they at least give you a journal as like a hint as to where it is. And you can ask people in Morrowind where it is. If they did it similarly like that, it would've been great for the soul cairn tbh. Thankfully there are mods.
Is this a paid narrator? Whoever it is they’re really good. Sounds like a narrator from a science show talking about black holes and stuff. Good stuff.
Here is another way to see it: Do you want: -The Suck boys, emo guys and Furry expansion or -The Hentei tentacle party combo experience with your bro "Party Guy Tentacle Lord" Do you want: -The Giga Chat Dawnguard Gang or -The "We are all peace and love" but actually will cut you in to pieces North gang? Do you want: -Nerd Expansion Bookworm taking to the next level experience or -The "I took the Red Water Scooma and it wasn't that bad really, just woke up feeling dizzy, and pain at the bottom part"
I'm so split on the Soul Carin. As a piece of gameplay its terrible, boring, very little to do, tedious, and its super easy to get disoriented. But its meaningless, depressing, and disorienting nature is perfect from a lore standpoint. You really get the feeling of how horrible it would be to be stuck there forever and I think thats exactly what they were going for. They could have added a bunch of dungeons, cool side quests, and things to do, but that would defeat its purpose. This isn't some fun place you wanna hang out in. It's emptiness is in itself the classic environmental story telling BGS games are known for. It's a soulless empty hell, and for that I can appreciate it!
